Police in Guinea say they have arrested a healer for conning hundreds of women into believing they were pregnant. BBC News reports that N'na Fanta Camara gave women who had been unable to conceive a mixture of leaves, herbs and other medicines that caused them to bloat and look pregnant. For her services, patients paid $33, in a country where the average monthly wage is around $48.
Police believe Camara made thousands of dollars a month, though she says she was only trying to help and, the report says, more than 200 women protested outside the police station in the Guinean capital of Conakry where Camara was held.
Over 700 women aged 17 to 45 are believed to have been affected by Camara's pregnancy "cure" and, the report says, the high numbers reflect Guinea, and the rest of Africa's, dependence on traditional healers. In 2006, the World Health Organisation said that 80% of Africans used traditional medical treatments.
Some of the women reported looking pregnant for 12 to 16 months.
The report says a police doctor has examined 47 of the affected women and said they risked long-term complications from the treatment. Camara, however, maintains she didn't do anything wrong. "I work very hard to help (the women) realise their dream but the rest is in the hands of God," she told reporters in Conakry.
A court is expected to charge her soon with endangering people's lives through fraudulent means.
[link url="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42718604"]BBC News report[/link]